r in Mexico has witnessed such scenes, and many
have borne testimony to these and similar facts. I have often seen the
fighting chanticleer carried inside the church under the arm of its
owner, while the latter entered to pray!

"_Fiestas principales_."--Page 7. The more noted Saints' days, or
religious festivals, as Saint John's, Good-Friday, Guadalupe, etcetera,
are so styled to distinguish them from the many others of lesser
celebrity.

"_Tailing the bull_."--Page 7. "Bull-tailing" (_coleo de toro_) and
"running the cock" (_correr el gallo_) are favourite sports in most
parts of Mexico, but particularly in the Northern provinces. They were
also Californian games while that country was Spano-Mexican.

"_The Apache_"--Page 8. One of the largest tribes of the "Indios
bravos" or wild Indians, _i.e._ Indians who have never submitted to the
Spanish yoke. Their country lies around the heads of the Gila,
extending from that stream to the Del Norte, and down the latter to the
range of another large and powerful tribe--the Comanches--also classed
as "Indios bravos."

"_Familias principales_."--Page 8. The "first families," a United
States phrase, is the synonym of "familias principales" of Mexico.

"_Comerciante_."--Page 8. Merchant or extensive trader. Merchandise is
not degrading in Mexico. The rich merchant may be one of the "familias
principales." Although there is still an old _noblesse_ in the Mexican
republic, the titles are merely given by courtesy, and those who hold
them are often outranked and eclipsed in style by the prosperous
parvenu.

"_Alcalde_."--Page 8. Pronounced Alkalde. The duties of the Alcalde
are very similar to those of a magistrate or justice of the peace.
Every village has its Alcalde, who is known by his large gold or
silver-headed cane and tassel. In villages where the population is
purely Indian, the Alcalde is usually either of Indian or mixed
descent--often pure Indian.

"_Mode de Paris_!"--Page 8. The upper classes in Mexico, particularly
those who reside in the large cities, have discarded the very
picturesque national costume, and follow the fashions of Paris. In all
the large towns, French tailors, modistes, jewellers, etcetera, may be
met with. The ladies wear French dresses, but without the bonnet. The
shawl is drawn over the head when it becomes necessary to cover it. The
hideous bonnet is only seen upon foreign ladies residing in Mexico. The
city gentleman of